Over edging apparatus for single cloth piece products

ABSTRACT

A hemstitching apparatus for single-fabric products such as towels, handkerchiefs, luncheon mats, pillow cases and scarves. The apparatus (100) is simple in structure and safeguarded, which can provide a quick hem treatment. A hemstitching apparatus (100) of the present invention includes: a press plate (30) which presses a fabric piece (W) on a work table (20) held by a machine frame (10); a guide beam (60) which moves a vertical shaft (40) mounting the press plate (30); a drive device (70) which moves the guide beam (60); a turn device (80) provided on the shaft (40); a guide rail (90) which guides guide rollers (81) provided on the turn device (80); and a sewing device (200), the press plate (30) and the turn device (80) being synchronously shifted and turned solely by means of reciprocation of the guide beam (60) as activated by the drive device (70). The hemstitching apparatus (100) can provide both a square corner treatment and a round corner treatment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to a hemming apparatus for fabricproducts. This invention more particularly relates to a hemmingapparatus or hemstitching apparatus for single-fabric products such astowels, handkerchiefs, luncheon mats, pillow cases and scarves.

2. Prior Art

To produce single-fabric products, generally of rectangularconfiguration, such as towels, handkerchiefs, luncheon mats, pillowcases or scarves, an elongated fabric material is first cut into fabricpieces of appropriate dimensions, then their hems are sewn or lockseamed to prevent fraying. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.4-26480 discloses a method for hemming fabrics as shown in the attachedFIG. 53C, where the four corners of a fabric piece are locked squarely.Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-24169 discloses anothermethod for hemstitching fabrics, where the four corners of a fabricpiece are locked or sewn roundly.

Straight side portions (edges) of fabric pieces (fabrics) are sewn orlock seamed as the fabrics advance relative to a sewing device. Thecorner portions of fabrics are sewn or lock seamed as or after thecorners turn 90 degrees relative to the sewing device for "round" or"square" corner treatments respectively. Such a square corner treatmentis provided when a 90-degree turning of fabrics is made while the needleof the sewing device is idling. On the other hand, such a round cornertreatment is provided when a 90-degree turning is made while the needleis functioning.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-189388 discloses a hemmingapparatus for rectangular fabric products, which comprises, as shown inthe attached FIG. 53A:

a work table having a fabric holder stand;

a sewing device having a needle and feeder teeth, mounted on the worktable;

a threaded rail turnably mounted on the holder stand, extending in thedirection of fabric feeding;

a rail driver to turn the threaded rail;

a nut device engaged on the threaded rail;

a horizontal swing arm turnably attached on the nut device;

an arm driver to horizontally swing or turn the swing arm;

a fabric absorber device having absorbers, vertically movably mounted onthe swing arm; and

an elevator device to vertically move the absorber device.

The attached FIG. 53C-1 shows a square fabric piece generally defined by"C" which is fed close to the needle of the sewing device 2 shown inFIG. 53(A), "P" indicating where the needle contacts the fabric C.

The elevator device 10 lowers the fabric absorber device 9, whoseabsorbers 11 absorb the fabric C placed on the work table 1 after therail driver 5 turns the threaded rail 4, sending the nut device 6 in thefabric feeding direction, and then the nut device 6 stops over thefabric C. The fabric C is advanced toward the needle point P (directionA) with the feeder teeth of the sewing device 2 (synchronized with thenut movement), and sewn along an edge (see FIG. 53C-2). Then the fabricC attached to the absorbers 11 is swung 90 degrees in the direction Baround the needle point P by means of the swing arm 7 driven by the armdriver 8. Next, the nut device 6 is retreated on the threaded rail 4 bymeans of the rail driver 5 such that the fabric C is placed before theneedle point P as shown in FIG. 53C-4. The foregoing sewing process isrepeated in the direction D to treat another edge of the fabric C as thefabric C advances in the direction A shown in FIG. 53C-5. The remainingtwo edges of the fabric C are sewn or locked in the same manners.Practically all these steps are performed automatically.

The hemming apparatus described above provides the following advantages:a) reduction in manpower; and b) homogeneous quality of edge treatmentas the feeding of fabrics is provided automatically.

However, this hemming apparatus is not without a shortcoming:

(1) fabrics need be retreated at every corner after turning or swingingbefore another sewing takes place so as to provide a gap between theneedle point P and the fabrics, which generate "time loss"; and

(2) "round" corner treatments are not provided.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-24169 discloses an edgelocking or sewing apparatus, which automatically provides "round" cornerseaming, comprising, as shown in FIG. 52:

a sewing device 2;

a work table 20;

a fabric holder plate 30 mounted on the work table 20, whose corners areround;

a plurality of pins 33 attached on the holder plate 30;

a fabric feeder 60 having a block device and a press device to advancethe holder plate 30 toward the sewing device 2;

a holder device 80 having a block device to hold a corner pin 33; and

a rotary device 90 having a hook to swing the holder plate 30 aroundthat corner pin 33 for a predetermined angle.

A fabric placed on the work table 20 is pressed and held by the holderplate 30, which is sent toward the sewing device 2 by means of thefabric feeder 60. The holder device 80 holds a corner pin 33 and therotary device 90 turns or swings the holder plate 30 for a predeterminedangle. The fabric is overlooked and at the same time cut along edgeswith the sewing device 2 having a cutter while the fabric moves relativeto the sewing device 2.

Accordingly, the edge locking apparatus of Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication No. 7-24169 provides a "round" corner treatment for fabricproducts. However, this apparatus is not without a shortcoming:

(3) the block device of the holder device 80 is lowered to engage with acorner pin 30, and while the block device of the fabric feeder 60 islifted, a pad of the press device is lowered in order to prevent theholder plate 30 from rising, and then the hook of the rotary device 90is advanced to engage with that pin 30 and then retreated, during allwhich the sewing operation is at a halt, generating "time loss"; and

(4) a great many components and members are used, complicating theoverall apparatus arrangement.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-124357 discloses anotherhemstitching apparatus which automatically stitches corner portions andedges of fabrics including winding edges, comprising (not shown:described here using the drawings accompanying said patent documents):

a work table 2;

a sewing device M;

a mobile stand 3 which moves in Y direction above the work table 2;

a mobile mounting table mounted on the mobile stand 3, which moves in Xdirection;

an elevator device which moves in Z direction and is capable of turningabout Z axis; and

a press plate 6 attached to the elevator device.

A fabric is lock seamed with the sewing device M along its edges whilethe fabric is pressed on the work table 2 with the press plate 6 withthe orientation of the fabric under control of the mobile stand 3 andthe elevator.

The hemstitching apparatus according to Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication No. 7-124357 provides computer controlled X-Y as well asangular orientations of the press plate 6, virtually eliminating use ofother members for adjusting to each configuration of fabric products.However, the overall operational speed is much restricted. In addition,while the apparatus is capable of providing precise and neat stitchingor locking, the apparatus requires adjustment of computer data andaccessory devices each time designs of fabric products are changed,pushing up production cost considerably.

Single-fabric products such as towels, handkerchiefs, luncheon mats andpillowcases are "low price" products. They need to be produced at verylow costs by means of mass production, eliminating "time loss" to amaximum degree. Accordingly, it is not advantageous to use acomplicated, thus expensive, stitching machine or apparatus to producesuch "cheap" products. Equally, even those fabric products whose cornersare hemmed in a round configuration need be provided at low costs.

Single-fabric products can take a variety of shapes, such as shown inFIGS. 50A, 50B, 50C and 50D. Corner stitching may be square ones asshown in FIGS. 50A and 50C, or round ones as shown in FIGS. 50B and 50D.Further, shapes of fabric products may be hexagonal as shown in FIG. 51Bor even triangular as shown in FIG. 51C. It is necessary to make as manyapparatus settings as there are shapes of fabric products, for bothmanual and computer controlled operations.

Use of the aforementioned prior art apparatuses to produce a smallernumber of fabric products is therefore not very advantageous as far asproduction efficiency and cost are concerned. Use of those apparatusesmay be advantageous only for mass producing identical products or ratherexpensive products. Accordingly, it is desired to provide a hemstitchingapparatus which can be easily adjusted to a practically any given shapeand dimensions of single-fabric products.

Equally desirable is providing "safeguard" to operations. No doubt, anyapparatus is subject to malfunctioning. When a high-speed machinemalfunctions, it may lead to total destruction of the machine. To avoidsuch damages, an apparatus should be provided with a certain degree ofsafety measure or "leeway."

The present inventor has made great efforts to find ways to cope withall the foregoing shortcomings which accompany the prior arthemstitching apparatuses.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a verysimple and reliable hemstitching apparatus which can efficiently hemstitch and hem cut fabrics.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hemstitchingapparatus which can be easily adjusted to varied configurations offabric products, shortening overall manufacturing time.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide ahemstitching apparatus which is capable of automatically cutting andfeeding an elongated fabric material.

These and other objects will be fully understood from the followingdescription of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, the present invention is described using theaccompanying drawings for clarity. A hemstitching apparatus 100 of thepresent invention generally comprises:

a machine frame 10;

a work table 20 mounted on the frame 10;

a press plate 30 to press a fabric W;

a shaft 40 vertically provided on the press plate 30;

a guide beam 60 to guide the shaft 40;

a drive device 70 to move the guide beam 60;

a turn device 80 provided at an upper portion of the shaft 40;

a plurality of guide rollers 81 mounted on the turn device 80;

a guide rail 90 to movably and selectively receive the guide rollers 81;and

a sewing device 200 having cutter means to hem stitch and hem cut thefabric W as pressed with the press plate 30,

the linear and angular shifting of the press plate 30 and the turndevice 80 synchronously provided by the guide beam 60 as controlled bythe drive device 70.

In an embodiment, a fabric W fed on the work table 20 by means of afabric feeder such as a cutter device 300 and a transport plate 350 ispressed with the press plate 30 on the work table 20. The orientationand position of the fabric W pressed with the press plate 30 are alteredunder control and fed under the sewing device 200 by means of the guiderollers 81 which run on the guide rail 90. The fabric feeding method ofthe present invention may be substantially similar to those shown inFIGS. 52 and 53. However, a hemstitching apparatus 100 of the presentinvention provides a totally different method for shifting and orientingthe press plate 30, thus the fabric W.

The press plate 30 is shifted and oriented by the shaft 40 and the turndevice 80 provided at the upper end of the shaft 40 with attachmentmeans. The press plate 30 is given dimensions and configuration suchthat the fabric piece W projects on all edges from the press plate 30 sothat the projected portions of the fabric piece W can be sewn and cutwith the sewing device 200 concurrently, as shown in FIGS. 14, 23, 24,48 and 51.

The turn device 80 is provided with a plurality of arms 80a as shown inFIG. 51, for example. The arms 80a each having a guide roller 81correspond to the corners of the fabric piece W on the work table 20 asshown in FIGS. 14, 23, 24, 46 and 48.

Since single-fabric products such as towels or handkerchiefs aregenerally rectangular or square as shown in FIGS. 50 and 51A, the pressplate 30 is generally rectangular or square and thus the turn device 80has four arms 80a each with a guide roller 81. However, the presentinvention provides hemstitching of other configurations of fabrics suchas a hexagonal shape (FIG. 51B) and a triangular shape (FIG. 51C), inwhich cases the press plate 30 and the turn device 80 are respectivelygiven shapes as shown in FIGS. 51B and 51C in phantom.

The turn device 80 is provided and held on the top end of the verticalshaft 40 with a cylinder member 53 as shown in FIG. 9 (Embodiment 1),FIG. 17 (Embodiment 2), and FIGS. 31 and 37-39 (Embodiment 3). The turndevice 80 is provided on the cylinder member 53 which is a portion of asupport device 50 mounted over the shaft 40. The cylinder member 53 ismounted on the shaft 50 by means of engaging guide columns 56 and acoupling guide 43 (shown in FIG. 9). Such an arrangement is provided toinhibit communication between the vertical motion of the shaft 40relative to the support device 50 and the turn device 80, as the fabricW is fed under the press plate 30 when the press plate 30 is lifted bythe upward motion of the shaft 40.

At least one of the guide rollers 81 provided on the arms 80a as shownin FIGS. 1, 18, 28 and 39 is received at a time in a guide channel 90bprovided in the guide rail 90 as shown in FIGS. 4, 18 and 29. The shaft40 slidably held in the support device 50 is guided by a guide beam 60movably held in a driver rail 61 which extends perpendicular to thefabric feeding direction as shown in FIGS. 6, 17, 38 and 39. The guidebeam 60 is driven by a drive device 70 mounted on the machine frame 10.

The motion of the turn device 80 provided by the drive device 70 isrespectively described in the following relative to embodimentsrepresentatively shown in FIGS. 7, 18, 27, 45 and 46.

A hemstitching apparatus 100 according to an embodiment is described inreference to FIGS. 7 and 10-13. When a fabric W is fed on a work table20 with a feeder (not shown), a turn device 80 will be oriented as shownin FIG. 11-1. FIGS. 11-13 show relative orientations of the fabric W andthe turn device 80. A press plate 30 which moves synchronously with theturn device 80 is omitted from those figures. A guide roller 81 of theturn device 80 is held by a stopper 91 provided in a guide channel 90bof a guide rail 90. The roller 81 held by the stopper 91 is indicated by"B" in FIG. 10.

When a fabric W is fed, a drive motor 71 of a drive device 70 is poweredand moves the guide beam 60 as shown in FIG. 4 such that the turn device80 is given a leftward motion, which swings the turn device 80 leftwardas shown in FIG. 11-2, since the guide roller 81(B) held in the guidechannel 90b of the guide rail 90 is restricted of its shifting by thestopper 91. The shaft 40 supporting the turn device 80 moves leftwardtogether with the turn device 80.

When the guide beam 60 starts moving backward by means of the drivedevice 70, the turn device 80 starts its turn as shown in FIG. 10 aboutthe guide roller 81(B). A guide roller 81 indicated by "A" comes off theguide channel 90b from an outlet 92 formed in the guide rail 90, settingthe guide roller 81 (A) free. The turn device 80 turns or swings counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 10.

A guide roller 81 indicated by "C" enters the guide channel 90b of theguide rail 90 from an inlet 93 formed in the guide rail 90, guided by aguide member 94 provided on the guide rail 90. The guide member 94returns to its original state after the insertion of the guide roller Cand prevents the guide roller C from coming off the guide channel 90b(see FIG. 11-3).

The press plate 30 will be positioned above the fabric W as shown inFIG. 11-3, where the press plate 30 is lowered onto the fabric W on thework table 20 by means of a support device 50 including the shaft 40.The turn device 80 remains at its level and is not lowered when theshaft 40 is lowered.

A forward movement of the guide beam 60 shifts the press plate 30 andthe fabric W forward and feeds the fabric W under a sewing device 200with two guide rollers 81 engaged in the guide channel 90b of the guiderail 90. As the fabric W advances relative to a needle 210 of the sewingdevice 200, an edge of the fabric W is treated (locked or stitched andcut). In embodiments of the present invention, there is provided ascissors device 211 in the vicinity of the needle 210 to cut edges ofthe fabric W.

When this operation (one edge treatment) is completed, the turn device80 takes another position shown in FIG. 12-5. The guide roller C willthen engage with the stopper 91. The guide beam 60 is positioned at theforward end and is then subjected to backward movement by means of thedrive device 70. The turn device 80 is subjected to swinging asdescribed relative to FIGS. 10 and 11-2, and as shown in FIG. 12-6.

Whether it is a square corner stitching or a round corner stitchingdepends on the stitching operation shown in FIGS. 12-5 and 12-6. When asquare corner stitching is desired, the sewing device 200 remains idleuntil the fabric W turns 90 degrees from the orientation shown in FIGS.12-6. A round stitching is provided when the sewing device keepsfunctioning as the fabric W makes a 90-degree turn as described indetail relative to another embodiment.

When a round corner stitching is desired, the sewing device 200continues to function during the step shown in FIG. 12-6. The turndevice 80 turns around a guide roller 81 in the guide channel 90b asshown in FIG. 10, during which the needle 210 of the sewing device 200"roundly" stitches or locks the corner portion immediately outside ofthat guide roller 81 (as seen from above) as shown in FIG. 15A.

A hemstitching apparatus 100 according to another embodiment is shown inFIGS. 15-24. When a drive motor 71 of a drive device 70 functions and aborescrew 72 (clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) turns "reversely", a guidebeam 60 "retreats". A turn plate 80 starts swinging as shown in FIGS. 10and 18 in the same manner as described previously relative to theforegoing embodiment.

A guide roller 81 indicated by "C" in FIG. 10 enters a guide channel 90bof a guide rail 90 through an inlet 93 guided by a guide member 94provided on the guide rail 90. The inlet 93 is otherwise closed as shownin FIG. 10 by a front portion 94a of the guide member 94. When a guideroller 81 forcibly opens the front portion 94a as shown in FIG. 22B,that is, when the bottom of an incoming guide roller 81 touches andpushes a slant face 94b of the guide member 94, the guide member 94turns about an arbor 94c and presses a spring 98 to let the guide roller81 in.

The center turn device 80 shown in FIG. 18 turns 90 degrees in the samemanners. In FIG. 18, two orbital motion lines are shown for that turndevice 80, showing that this turn device 80 can cope with changes indimension of fabric products. In this hemstitching apparatus 100, a gatemember 95a of a gate device 95 and the guide member 94 respectivelyclosing the outlet 92 and the inlet 93 are respectively provided with anelongation along the guide rail 90, facilitating adjustment fordimensional differences of edges of fabric products. The width betweenthose two orbital lines indicates a possible size adjustment range,which can be made even greater, if desired.

Motions of the center turn device 80 shown in FIG. 18 are further shownin FIG. 23C as well as in FIGS. 24C and 24D. FIG. 23 shows a roundcorner stitching. For a round corner stitching, the needle 210 of thesewing device 200 is positioned as indicated by a triangle above aportion which is immediately outside of the center of the guide roller81 held by the stopper 91 (as seen from above). FIG. 24 shows a squarecorner stitching. A square corner stitching is provided as shown in FIG.24E when the turn device 80 turns about the guide roller 81 to set thestitch start point of a second edge of the fabric W positioned at apoint to the left from the needle 210 of the sewing device 200 as shownin FIG. 24D.

FIG. 47 is an enlarged drawing showing the motion of the press plate 30and the fabric W as guided by the turn device 80. After a first edge ofthe fabric W is treated (right), the fabric W and the press plate 30 arepositioned (left) as shown in FIG. 47. The needle 210 is positioned at aspot indicated by a triangle. In an embodiment, the sewing device 200 isfixed to the machine frame 10, in which the position of the needle 210is unchanged. The start point of the second edge of the fabric W comeson the left side of the needle 210 as the turn device 80 turns left. Thesecond edge is then stitched and cut in the following manners along aline which is square to the first edge.

The drive device 70 shifts the guide beam 60 forward. The turn device 80with two guide rollers 81 engaged in the guide channel 90b of the guiderail 90 shifts its position in the fabric feeding direction,continuously feeding the fabric W under the needle 210 as pressed withthe press plate 30.

After this fabric edge treatment, the guide roller 81 indicated by C inFIG. 10 comes off the stopper 91. The third and fourth edges of thefabric W will be treated in the described manners.

A hemstitching apparatus 100 according to another embodiment is shown inFIGS. 25-49. When a fabric W is carried onto a work table 20 with acutter device 300 having a transport plate 350 as shown in FIG. 27, thefunction of the transport plate 350 is taken over by a press plate 30.Then a support device 50 lowers a shaft 40. The press plate 30 pressesthe fabric W as shown in FIG. 38. A turn device 80 is positioned abovethe press plate 30 as shown in FIG. 29, and two guide rollers 81 of theturn device 80 are engaged in a guide channel 90b of a guide rail 90 asshown in FIG. 45.

A drive device 70 turns a borescrew 72, shifting a guide beam 60 mountedon the borescrew 72 to the right in FIG. 32. Then the turn device 80 isshifted to the position shown in FIG. 29 by means of the two guiderollers 81 engaged in the guide channel 90b of the guide rail 90. Thefabric W pressed with the press plate 30 on the work table 20 movessynchronously.

The hemstitching apparatus 100 according to an embodiment has a labeldevice 360 between a cutter device 300 and a sewing device 200. Thelabel device 360 provides labels between fabrics W and a press plate 30as shown in FIGS. 26 and 31, which will be attached to the fabricproducts.

The straight movement of the fabric W and the press plate 30 relative tothe needle 210 of the sewing device 200 facilitates a straight stitchingand trimming of the fabric W concurrently.

Before treating another edge of the fabric W, the corner between therelevant edges need be treated, with either a round corner treatment ora square corner treatment. The following description is directed to asquare corner treatment such as shown in FIGS. 50A and 50C. The pressplate 30 has right angular corners as shown in FIG. 47, which are to bepositioned relative to the needle 210 as shown in FIG. 39 by means of arail driver 400.

As shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, the rail driver 400 holds the guide rail 90such that the guide rail 90 can shift in the fabric feeding direction.To treat a corner of a fabric W squarely, an axial handle 417 providedon the rail driver 400 is turned under control so that rail bases 411shift the guide rail 90 to the right in FIG. 33. The guide channel 90bof the guide rail 90 supported on the rail bases 411 is shifted togetherto the right in FIG. 33. The press plate 30 is positioned such that theorientation and position of the press plate 30 are properly adjustedrelative to the needle 210 as shown in FIGS. 46A and 47.

After that adjustment, the press plate 30 is turned so that the fabric Wcan be treated with the sewing device 200 on an edge as shown in FIG.46B.

When the first edge has been treated, the turn device 80 takes theposition shadowed in FIG. 45. The right roller A of the two guiderollers 81 received in the guide channel 90b faces the outlet 92 and theleft roller B contacts the right end of the stopper 91 in the guidechannel 90b. As the borescrew 72 turns "reversely" by means of the drivedevice 70, a piston 97a turns the gate device 95 as shown in FIG. 35,opening the outlet 92.

The guide beam 60 retreats when the borescrew 72 turns reversely bymeans of a drive motor 71 of the drive device 70. This driving forcepulls the center of the turn device 80 leftward in FIG. 45. However, asa guide roller 81 of the turn device 80 is held by the stopper 91 in theguide channel 90b, the turn device 80 is actually turned as shown inFIG. 45 on the guide roller 81. Since the turn device 80 is attached tothe guide beam 60 via the shaft 40 and the support device 50, the shaft40 is synchronously shifted with the turn device 80.

As described, the turn device 80 starts to move and turn as shown inFIG. 45 when the guide beam 60 starts moving by means of the drivedevice 70. The turn device 80 turns about the guide roller B held in theguide channel 90b and the guide roller A comes off the outlet 92, whichfacilitates counter clockwise turning of the turn device 80 as shown inFIG. 45.

The guide roller C enters the guide channel 90b from the inlet 93 guidedby the guide member 94. The inlet 93 is otherwise closed by the frontportion 94a of the guide member 94 as shown in FIG. 36B. The inlet 93 isopened as a guide roller 81 pushes the front portion 94a downward asshown in FIG. 36A. That is, a guide roller 81 touches the slant face 94bof the guide member 94, pushing the guide member 94 against the pullspring 98, and the guide roller 81 enters the guide channel 90b.

In the hemstitching apparatus 100 of the present invention, the gatedevice 95 and the guide member 94 on the guide rail 90 are both providedwith a substantial length to provide an adjustment capability fordifferent dimensions of fabric products. Even a rectangular fabric W asshown in FIG. 50C can be treated, as the outlet 92 and the inlet 93 aremade long enough to adjust to the difference in length of the edges.

Each of the hemstitching apparatuses 100 includes in common, as shown inFIGS. 9, 37 and 38:

a support cylinder 51 to shift a support device 50 which slidably holdsa shaft 40 by means of a guide beam 60;

a cylinder member 53 to shift the shaft 40 vertically within the supportcylinder 51;

a first chamber 54 and a second chamber 55 formed between the cylindermember 53 and the shaft 40; and

two fluid ports 51a and two port paths 53a respectively provided on thefluid ports 51a so as to respectively control pressures in the firstchamber 54 and the second chamber 55.

Hemstitching apparatuses in general must be adjusted to each fabricproduct by changing their press plate equivalents and turn deviceequivalents. A hemstitching apparatus 100 of the present inventionprovides easy changing of such members. The shaft 40 detachablysupporting the press plate 30 and the turn device 80 is movably orslidably held in the support device 50, the fact of which provides easychanging of the press plate 30 and the turn device 80 with others asrequired.

Conventionally, such a shaft is movably held by means of a cylinder fromabove as shown in FIG. 54, making it very troublesome to remove and seta turn device. In order to supply electricity or fluid pressure to movethe shaft vertically, a cable or hose is conventionally attached, whichadds trouble to removing and setting a turn device. In the presentinvention, such a hose or cable is provided from a side of the supportdevice 50 at a body portion of the support device 50, additionallyproviding easy removal and setting of both the turn device 80 and thepress plate 30.

The shaft 40 is held in the support device 50 such that it can slidevertically within the support member 50. The support device 50 isassociated with the guide beam 60 via a horizontally elongated guideblock 52 provided on the support cylinder 51. The guide block 52 isprovided with a guide recess 52a as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9. The guideblock 52 receives a guide rail 61 of the guide beam 60 in a guide recess52a. The support device 50 can move freely along the guide rail 61 ofthe guide beam 60.

The cylinder member 53 is installed within the support cylinder 51 andcan freely turn. A void is formed in the inner wall of the cylindermember 53 such that the first pressure chamber 54 and the secondpressure chamber 55 can be provided therein between the cylinder member53 and the shaft 40 as shown in FIG. 9. A piston portion 42 is formed onthe shaft 40 between the first chamber 54 and the second chamber 55. Twofluid ports 51a and two port paths 53a respectively leading to the fluidports 51a are formed respectively on the support cylinder 51 and thecylinder member 53 as shown in FIG. 9, which respectively correspond tothe first chamber 54 and the second chamber 55. By controlling thepressures of the first chamber 54 and the second chamber 55, the shaft40 functions as a piston within the support device 50.

A coupling guide 43 having a plurality of grooves 43a is provided on theupper end of the shaft 40. Each groove 43a engages with each guidecolumn 56 (in this case 4 in all). Assisted by the guide columns 56 andthe grooves 53a, the shaft 40 moves vertically relative to the cylindermember 53 of the support device 50. The orientation-position shiftingforce provided to the cylinder member 53 from the turn device 80 istransferred to the shaft 40 by means of engagement between the guidecolumns 56 and the coupling guide 43.

The present invention also provides a safeguard (damage prevention)measure to protect an apparatus 100, which includes supporting the guiderail 90 retreatably relative to the frame 10 by connecting both ends ofthe guide rail 90 by means of safety devices 10a provided on the frame10.

When the turn device 80 and the press plate 30 move from the fabricfeeding position to the waiting position, the right end of the guiderail 90 is drawn upward as shown in phantom in FIG. 18 by a pistondevice 96, avoiding accidental contact between the press plate 30 andthe needle 210 of the sewing device 200, though the press plate 30 willnot contact the needle 210 in ordinary situations.

Particularly, when a stopper piston 99 malfunctions and does not drawthe stopper 91 under the guide rail 90 (FIG. 20), a guide roller 81 maycollide with the stopper 91 when the turn device 80 abruptly returns toits waiting position. And if the drive device 70 keeps functioning, thehemstitching apparatus 100 may be badly damaged. In order to avoid suchan accident, the ends of the guide rail 90 are respectively connected tothe frame 10 with the safety devices 10a. The safety devices 10acompletely stop the apparatus 100 before substantial shocking forces areapplied onto the turn device 80 and other members.

Regarding the gate device 95 which closes the outlet 92, a push spring97b is provided to press the gate member 95a. When the stopper 91malfunctions and the turn device 80 returns to the waiting position at ahigh speed, the turn device 80 and other members may be damaged if thestopper 91 remains protruding into the guide chamber 90b. At such atime, since a guide roller 81 engaging with the stopper 91 and the shaft40 exerting a force to move the turn device 80 are rather widely apart,a large moment is generated therebetween and applied onto the turndevice 80 so as to turn the turn device 80 counter clockwise, and aguide roller 81 facing the outlet 92 will attempt to disengage with theguide rail 90. The retaining spring power of the outlet 92 is socontrolled as to allow that guide roller 81 to overcome the spring forceat such an occasion. As a result, that guide roller 81 will escape fromthe outlet 92 without damaging the apparatus 100.

The guide rail 90 has two "large" openings, outlet 92 and inlet 93,which are closed with a gate device 95 and a guide member 94respectively. Guide rollers 81 can be smoothly introduced into the guiderail 90 through the inlet 93 and smoothly expelled from the guide rail90 through the outlet 92. Regarding the guide member 94, as shown inFIGS. 21 and 22, a support spindle 95b which supports the guide member94 on the frame 10 is provided at the same level with the front portion94a of the guide member 94, preventing opening of the front portion 94aof the guide member 94 while a guide roller 81 is being guided into theguide channel 90b. There is no force to be generated to push the guideroller 81 shown in FIG. 22 rightward.

FIG. 47 shows an orbital motion of the press plate 30 and the fabric W.When the treatment of a first edge of the fabric W is provided, thefabric W and the press plate 30 are positioned on the right in FIG. 47.The needle 210 is positioned as shown by a triangle, which does notshift its position since the sewing device 200 in this embodiment isfixed to the frame 10. The turn device 80 swings and the corner to thesecond edge of the fabric W is positioned to the left of the needle 210as shown in FIG. 47. The second edge will be treated (sewn and cut)while the fabric W advances straight below the needle 210 as indicatedby an arrow, providing a square corner treatment.

To describe it further, the drive device 70 shifts the guide beam 60 andthe turn device 80 moves in the fabric feeding direction as two guiderollers 81 are engaged in the guide channel 90b of the guide rail 90.The fabric W pressed with the press plate 30 advances under the needle210 of the sewing device 200 and the second edge is treated. After thesecond edge treatment, the roller C in FIG. 45 engages with the stopper91. Those steps are repeated for the third and fourth edge treatments.

After all edges of the fabric W are treated, the press plate 30 finallyfrees the fabric product W, which is carried out on a product carrier500 onto a product receiver 514 as shown in FIGS. 43 and 44. The pressplate 30 and the turn device 80 return to their respective initialpositions as shown in FIG. 29 to treat another fabric piece.

The rail driver 400 shown in FIG. 31 provides the following functionswhen the press plate 30 returns to its original position. The raildriver 400 facilitates a thread end treatment as well as prevents thepress plate 30 from accidentally contacting the sewing device 200.

As shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, the rail driver 400 includes threadcylinders 413 which independently draw rail bases 411 supporting theends of the guide rail 90 on rail members 410 mounted on the frame 10,and also retreat cylinders 414. The thread cylinders 413 provide thethread end treatment at the end of a fabric treatment operation and theretreat cylinders 414 prevent contact between the press plate 30 and thesewing device 200.

A round corner treatment is described in the following using FIGS. 48and 49. The needle 210 is positioned off the guide channel 90b of theguide rail 90 (as seen from above) as shown in FIG. 48A. Square-roundcontrol shafts 415 of the rail driver 400 are turned by means of anaxial handle 417 to appropriately arrange the position of each rail base411 off the guide channel 90b. A press plate 30 "larger" than the turndevice 80 is used as shown in FIG. 48A.

A first edge of a fabric W is treated after that arrangement as shown inFIGS. 48A and 48B. Just before this straight edge treatment is over, theturn device 80 starts to turn as shown in FIG. 48C, while the needle 210and the cutter device 300 are working. Then, the fabric W will be roundcorner treated as shown in FIGS. 48C, 48D and 49. When the round cornertreatment is over, the second edge treatment starts.

The turning of the turn device 80 for this treatment is identical withthat described relative to FIG. 45. Such a round corner treatment isprovided only by adjusting the position of the guide rail 90 and byusing a press plate 30 prepared for that operation. Removing and settingpress members 30 and turn devices 80 can both be done very easily.

The present invention provides production of various fabric productssuch as shown in FIG. 51, for example, very quickly and at a low cost.The hemstitching apparatus 100 of the present invention facilitates verysimple positioning and orientation of a fabric piece W by means ofreciprocated movement of the guide beam 60 as driven by the drive device70. Thus, errors in adjustment will not be accumulated. The overallstructure can be very simple. The overall production speed of thehemstitching apparatus 100 of the present invention is about 5 to 10times as fast as that of a conventional hemstitching apparatus.

"Safety" measures are taken in hemstitching apparatuses 100 of thepresent invention, therefore, they will seldom malfunction or bedamaged.

The choice between a round corner treatment and a square cornertreatment is made practically only by adjusting the position of theguide rail 90 relative to the needle 210.

When a hemstitching device 100 of the present invention is arrangedincluding:

detachably attaching a press plate 30 to the lower end of a shaft 40;

providing a turn device support 44 on the shaft 40 with attachmentmeans;

providing an attachment opening 82 at a center portion of a turn device80;

inserting the turn device support 44 into the attachment opening 82; and

fixing the turn device 80 on the turn device support 44, then, removingand setting a press plate 30 and a turn device 80 can be carried outvery easily.

To change a press plate 30 with another, a stopper controller 46aprovided at the lower end of the shaft 40 is lifted as shown by an arrowin FIG. 37. A stopper member 46 comes off a receiver hole 32b, setting acoupling member 32 and a press plate connector 45 free from each other.The press plate 30 is drawn to the left in FIG. 37 and proximally inFIG. 38 to be separated from the shaft 40. Setting of another pressplate 30 is facilitated in the reverse order of this removal.

The press plate connector 45 is rectangular and fixed to the shaft 40.The receiver hole 32a is so dimensioned as to receive the press plateconnector 45. The press plate 30 when set is stationary relative to theshaft 40. Accordingly, the motions of the press plate 30 and the turndevice 80 are synchronized as shown in FIGS. 46 and 48.

A turn device 80 is changed with another as shown in FIGS. 41 and 42. Anattachment opening 82 is formed in a center portion of the turn device80 as shown in FIG. 40 to receive a turn device support 44 provided atthe upper end of the shaft 40 as shown in FIGS. 37 and 38. The turndevice 80 when set takes the position relative to the shaft 40 as shownin FIG. 41. A plurality of press legs 47 are provided on the upper faceof the turn device 80 in the vicinity of the attachment opening 82,pressing the turn device 80 against the turn device support 44.

When the turn device 80 is held on the shaft 40, the turn device 80 isheld tightly between the turn device support 44 and the press legs 47 asshown in FIG. 41A. The turn device support 44 is received in theattachment opening 82 as shown in FIG. 41B.

The turn device 80 is removed by turning a press controller 48 shown inFIG. 42, bringing the lower ends of the press legs 47 onto the turndevice support 44 and releasing pressure from the turn device 80. Theturn device 80 is merely placed on the turn device support 44. Byreleasing the press legs 47 as shown in FIG. 42B, the turn device 80 canbe easily removed from the upper end of the shaft 40 through the presslegs 47. A replacing turn device 80 can be set in position on the upperend of the shaft 40 in the reverse steps.

As described, a hemstitching apparatus 100 of the present inventionprovides synchronous motion to the press plate 30 and the turn device 80relative to the shaft 40, and provides easy changing of these memberswith others.

A label device 360 can be additionally installed between a cutter device300 and a sewing device 200 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 31. The labeldevice 360 automatically provides labels to be attached on the fabricproducts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 to FIG. 14 show an embodiment (Embodiment 1) of the presentinvention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hemstitching apparatus;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the hemstitching apparatus of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the hemstitching apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the hemstitching apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the hemstitching apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of the hemstitchingapparatus, showing a positional relationship between a press plate on awork table and a turn device provided on the upper end of a shaft;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of the hemstitching apparatus, showing anengagement of the turn device and a guide rail;

FIG. 8 is a partial front view, showing the engagement shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of the hemstitching apparatus,showing a positional relationship of the shaft, a support device and adrive device;

FIG. 10 is a partial plan view, showing a movement of the turn devicerelative to the guide rail;

FIG. 11 is a partial schematic plan view, showing a motion of the turndevice from its initial position to a position over a fabric on the worktable;

FIG. 12 is a partial schematic plan view, showing a motion of the turndevice from its initial treatment position to a fabric turn position;

FIG. 13 is a partial schematic plan view, showing a motion of the turndevice from an end treatment position back to an initial position; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view, showing a movement of a fabric aspressed by the press plate on the work table.

FIG. 15 to FIG. 25 show another embodiment (Embodiment 2) of the presentinvention, in which:

FIG. 15 is a front view of a hemstitching apparatus;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the hemstitching apparatus of FIG. 15 as seenfrom line 1--1 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a partial sectional side elevational view of the hemstitchingapparatus;

FIG. 18 a plan view of the hemstitching apparatus;

FIG. 19 is a partial front view of a guide rail of the hemstitchingapparatus;

FIG. 20 is a partial front view, showing an arrangement of a stopperprovided in the guide rail;

FIG. 21 is a partial enlarged view as seen from line 2--2 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 is a partial enlarged view as seen from line 3--3 of FIG. 18,(A) showing closure of an inlet of the guide rail with a guide member,and (B) showing opening of the inlet of the guide rail;

FIG. 23 is a schematic plan view, showing a movement of a fabric aspressed by a press plate on a work table;

FIG. 24 is a schematic plan view, showing a relative positioning of astopper piston, press plate, turn device and fabric; and

FIG. 25 is a partial schematic view, showing an arrangement of thehemstitching apparatus.

FIG. 26 to FIG. 51 show another embodiment (Embodiment 3) of the presentinvention, in which:

FIG. 26 is a front view of a hemstitching apparatus;

FIG. 27 is a schematic plan view of the hemstitching apparatus of FIG.26;

FIG. 28 is a right side elevational view of the hemstitching apparatus;

FIG. 29 is a schematic plan view, showing a positional relationship of aturn device, guide beam, drive device and bar cylinder for a transportplate;

FIG. 30 is a schematic side elevational view, showing a relationshipbetween the transport plate and a plate elevator;

FIG. 31 is a partial front view, showing a state of the guide rail;

FIG. 32 is a plan view, showing a relationship between the guide railand a rail driver;

FIG. 33 is a right side elevational view of the hemstitching apparatus;

FIG. 34 is a partial enlarged sectional view seen from line 4--4 of FIG.31;

FIG. 35 is a partial enlarged sectional view, showing an arrangement ofan outlet provided on the guide rail;

FIG. 36 is a partial enlarged sectional view, showing an inlet providedon the guide rail, (A) showing entry of a guide roller and (B) showingthe guide roller introduced on a guide channel;

FIG. 37 is a partially sectioned front view, showing mountingarrangements of a press plate and a turn device on a shaft;

FIG. 38 is a partially sectioned side elevational view, showing anarrangement of a shaft system;

FIG. 39 is a schematic side elevational view, showing a positionalrelationship between the guide channel of the guide rail and a needle;

FIG. 40 is a plan view of the turn device, showing a positionalrelationship between a fabric and the turn plate;

FIG. 41 shows press legs and the turn device held by the press legs, (A)being a partially sectioned side elevational view and (B) being a planview;

FIG. 42 shows the turn device as freed from the press legs, (A) being apartially sectioned side elevational view and (B) being a partial planview;

FIG. 43 is a partial front view, showing a product carrier;

FIG. 44 is a partial plan view, showing a positional relationshipbetween the product carrier and a machine frame;

FIG. 45 is a schematic plan view, showing a movement of the turn devicerelative to the guide rail;

FIG. 46 is a plan view, showing a positional relationship between theturn device and a fabric;

FIG. 47 is a partial plan view, showing how a fabric is positioned for acorner treatment by means of the press plate;

FIG. 48 is a partial plan view, showing a positional relationshipbetween the turn device and a fabric for a round corner treatment;

FIG. 49 is a partial plan view, showing a movement of the press platewith a fabric under the press plate;

FIG. 50 shows examples of square corner treatments and round cornertreatments; and

FIG. 51 shows other exemplary fabric product configurations.

FIGS. 52 and 53 show prior art, in which:

FIG. 52 is a plan view of a prior art hemstitching apparatus; and

FIG. 53 shows another prior art hemstitching apparatus, (A) being afront view of the hemstitching apparatus, (B) being an enlarged planview of a cam member, and (C) being a plan view, showing a fabric edgetreatment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments 1, 2 and 3

Embodiments 1, 2 and 3 are described in the following. FIGS. 1-14correspond Embodiment 1, FIGS. 15-25 correspond Embodiment 2, and FIGS.26-49 correspond Embodiment 3.

Embodiment 1

A hemstitching apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theapparatus 100 seen from the fabric product take-out side, and FIG. 2 isa perspective view of the apparatus 100 seen from above a sewing device200. This apparatus 100 is provided with a work table 20 held by amachine frame 10 for mounting a fabric material W, a press plate 30which presses the fabric W on the work table 20 and is configuredsubstantially similar to a fabric product, and a sewing device 200 totreat edges of the fabric W as pressed with the press plate 30. Thefabric W enters the apparatus 100 from the left side of the apparatus100 onto the work table 20 (FIG. 2). The fabric product W comes out ofthe apparatus 100 from the right side after edge and corner treatments(sewing and cutting) with the sewing device 200 having a needle 210 anda scissors device 211.

The work table 20 is held horizontally on the frame 10 which forms anoverall framework of the apparatus 100. A sewing table 21 mounting thesewing device 200 is provided such that the sewing table 21 can turnhorizontally as shown in FIG. 2. The turn center 212 of the sewing table21 is positioned as shown in FIG. 3 and the needle 210 turns as shown bya triangle in FIG. 14(B).

The press plate 30 which presses the fabric W on the work table 20 isconfigured as sectionally shown in FIGS. 6 and 9. The press plate 30 isdimensioned and presses the fabric W such that the edge portions of thefabric W protrude from the edges of the press plate 30 to be treated(locked and cut) by the sewing device 200. The press plate 30 takes aconfiguration which is slightly "smaller" than and similar inconfiguration to fabric products to be produced as shown in FIG. 51.

The configuration of the press plate 30 may be those shown in FIG.51(A), 51(B) and 51(C). As described earlier, the press plate 30 takes ashape of subject fabric products but slightly smaller.

The press plate 30 is attached at the lower end of a shaft 40 as shownin FIGS. 5, 6 and 9. The shaft 40 is mounted on a guide beam 60 by meansof a support device 50. The shaft 40 is provided with a press plateattachment 41 which detachably holds the press plate 30. The shaft 40has on its upper end a coupling guide 43 having four grooves 43a in thisembodiment on its side wall. The shaft 40 is provided with a pistonportion 42 on its center portion as shown in FIG. 9. The shaft 40functions as a piston within the support device 50.

The support device 50 includes a support cylinder 51 to be shiftedhorizontally by means of the guide beam 60, a cylinder member 53 whichis turnably mounted within the support cylinder 51 and slidably holdsthe shaft 40 therein, pressure chambers 54 and 55 provided between thecylinder member 53 and the shaft 40, and fluid ports 51a and 53a tocontrol the pressure of the chambers 54 and 55.

The support device 50 is horizontally shiftably held on the guide beam60 by means of a guide block 52 which is provided as part of the supportcylinder 51 as shown in FIG. 9. The horizontally elongated guide block52 is provided with a horizontally elongated guide recess 52a on theguide block 52. A driver rail 61 is slidably mounted on the guide recess52a. The support device 50 is shiftable relative to the driver rail 61of the guide beam 60 as shown in FIG. 6.

Two fluid ports 51a and two corresponding port paths 53a are provided inthe support cylinder 51 and the cylinder member 53, respectively asshown in FIG. 9. The fluid ports 51a and the port paths 53a arerespectively paired in communication as shown in FIG. 9. The port paths53a communicate with the first chamber 54 and the second chamber 55respectively. Each fluid port 51a is connected with a fluid hose (notshown) for pressure supply.

A turn device 80 is horizontally provided on the upper end of thecylinder member 53 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9. The upper end of thecylinder member 53 is also provided with a plurality of guide columns 56which engage with the grooves 43a provided on the coupling guide 43. Theguide columns 56 hold the shaft 40 such that the shaft 40 cannot turnrelative to the cylinder member 53 but can slide vertically relative tothe cylinder member 53.

The guide beam 60 is mounted on the frame 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.The guide beam 60 can move in the fabric feeding direction by means ofthe driver rail 61 which extends in the cross-machine direction. Thedriving power of the guide beam 60 is provided by a drive device 70installed on the frame 10.

The drive device 70 is powered by a drive motor 71. The power providedby the drive motor 71 is transmitted to a borescrew 72 by means of agear device (not shown). The borescrew 72 is engaged with a borescrewreceiver 62 formed on the guide beam 60. The turning of the borescrew 72shifts the guide beam 60 forward and backward.

The drive device 70 may be an NC device. However, as explained earlier,it takes a considerable time to properly set such a drive device foreach fabric product. Therefore, it is more advantageous to control thedrive device 70 using appropriate cams. In an embodiment of the presentinvention, the drive device 70 includes an elongated guide rail 90mounting a plurality of turn devices 80 thereon, and a single drivemotor 71 to control all these turn devices 80.

The turn device 80 detachably mounted on the cylinder member 53 has arms80a corresponding to the corners of a fabric product as shown in FIGS. 7and 10. Each arm 80a has a guide roller 81 on its end portion. Theseguide rollers 81 are respectively introduced into a guide channel 90b ofa guide rail 90. As mentioned earlier, the overall configuration of theturn device 80 corresponds to the configuration of fabric products.

The guide rail 90 as shown in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8 is installed above aneedle 210 of the sewing device 200, in which are provided a stopper 91which restricts a roller 81, an outlet 92 which expels a guide roller 81at a time from the guide channel 90b, and an inlet 93 which introduces aguide roller 81 at a time into the guide channel 90b.

The guide rail 90 is mounted on the frame 10 turnably as shown in FIGS.2 and 7. The right end of the guide rail 90 is connected to the pistonrod of a piston device 96 mounted on the frame 10 (FIG. 7). The guiderail 90 can turn horizontally as shown in FIG. 13-8 and FIG. 13-9.

Embodiment 2

Another hemstitching apparatus 100 is shown in FIGS. 15-25. Thisapparatus 100 includes, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 17, a work table 20, apress plate 30, and a sewing device 200. A fabric W is carried onto thework table 20 by a cutter device 300 from the left side and sent outfrom the right side after its hem treatment with a needle 210 of thesewing device 200 and a cutter device (not shown).

Each end of the guide rail 90 is attached to the frame 10 through asafety device 10a as shown in FIG. 15, which copes with accidentalphysical shocks between elements of the apparatus 100. The guide rail 90is provided with a length which substantially covers the distancebetween the cutter device 300 and the fabric outing position.

Each safety device 10a has a stopper mount 11 attached under the guiderail 90, a cushion stopper 12 attached to the stopper mount 11, and astopper guide 14, as shown in FIG. 19. In the hemstitching apparatus100, the guide rail 90 can escape to the left in FIG. 19 when the pressplate 30 and/or the turn device 80 malfunctions. The stopper guide 14 onthe left has a recess 15 for the cushion stopper 12 to retreatthereinto, while the stopper guide 14 of the safety device 10a on theright in FIG. 19 has a recess 15 for the purpose of supporting thecushion stopper 12.

In the safety device 10a on the left in FIG. 19, a press spring 16 isprovided to absorb shock from the stopper mount 11 when the stoppermount 11 accidentally collides with the press spring 16. A switch 17 isalso provided over the stopper mount 11 with a predetermined distanceapart to provide a signal when the stopper mount 11 moves off for apredetermined distance therefrom. In response to the signal, thehemstitching apparatus 100 immediately stops all its function.

The sewing device 200 mounted on the work table 20 is provided with acutter means (not shown) close to the needle 210. The sewing device 200may also have a tape supply device (not shown) which supplies edge tapesto be sewn onto edges of fabric products.

A label or tag device 360 to supply labels or tags to be attached onedges of fabric products W may also be provided between the cutterdevice 300 and the sewing device 200 as shown in FIGS. 15-17. Suchlabels may provide a product name and producer name. The press plate 30will be lifted from a fabric W such that a label can be inserted andattached on an edge of a fabric W. The label supplied on an edge of thefabric W is sewn thereto at the same time the edge is treated by thesewing device 200.

As repeatedly described, the press plate 30 is made smaller than afabric product W so that the protruding portions of the fabric W can betreated as shown in FIG. 15. The press plate 30 shown in FIG. 24 hassquare corners for square-cornered fabrics and the press plate 30 ofFIG. 16 has round corners for round-cornered fabrics.

The guide rail 90 has a length and configuration as shown in FIG. 18. Asshown in FIG. 20, the guide rail 90 has a stopper 91, an outlet 92 andan inlet 93 as well as a guide member 94 which guides a guide roller 81at a time (FIG. 22). The right end of the guide rail 90 is connected tothe piston rod of a piston device 96.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the outlet 92 is covered with a gate member95a of a gate device 95. The gate device 95 comprises a gate member 95turnably supported by a support spindle 95b, a piston 97a, and a pushspring 97b which presses the gate member 95a toward the guide rail 90.

In the guide rail 90, as shown in FIG. 22, the outlet 93 is covered withthe front portion 94a of the guide member 94. The front portion 94a isbiased with a pull spring 98.

The cutter device 300 is provided in the hemstitching apparatus 100 asshown in FIGS. 15 and 16. The cutter device 300 has a material feeder310 as shown in FIGS. 15-17 and 25 to feed an elongated fabric materialto the cutter device 300. The material feeder 310 has a fabric holder320. If an elongated fabric material is provided for producing towels,the fabric material is usually provided with flat portions and piledportions separately. The fabric holder 320 nips those flat portions andprevents those piled portions from continuously running forward, thuscontrolling the feeding of the material.

The feeding of a fabric material from the fabric holder 320 onto thework table 20 is provided by a transporter 340 as shown in FIG. 15. Thefabric material must be cut in a predetermined size with a cutter member330. The transporter 340 is provided with a fabric nipper 341 whichpinches an end portion of the fabric piece and draws the fabric pieceunder the needle 210. The transporter 340 is reciprocated by a pistoncylinder 342 shown in FIG. 15.

This hemstitching apparatus 100 additionally has a label device 360between the cutter device 300 and the sewing device 200. The labeldevice 360 provides labels onto edge portions of fabric pieces W underthe press plate 30. The press plate 30 is lifted slightly while labelsare provided. The labels will be sewn onto fabric edges at the same timethe fabrics W are treated with the sewing device 200.

During round corner treatment, undesirable wrinkles are often generatedon fabrics. To provide a neat treatment of round corners, the followingtwo steps are taken.

The first step is to lift the press metal of the sewing device 200slightly immediately before turning a fabric W. The second step is toappropriately blow air onto the fabric W in the fabric turning directionto stretch such wrinkles.

Embodiment 3

Another hemstitching apparatus 100 is provided as shown in FIGS. 26-29.A cutter device 300 is installed in the apparatus 100 as shown in FIGS.26, 27, 29 and 30. A fabric material is fed onto a work table 20 afterthe cutter device 300 cuts the fabric material in a predetermined size,which is sent by a transporter 350 as shown in FIG. 29. After thetransporter 350 moves to a center position of FIG. 29, a fabric piece Wis released as shown in FIG. 30. Then the transporter 350 returns to itsoriginal position.

A press plate 30 receives and presses the fabric W at a center of thework table 20. A guide channel 90b provided on a guide rail 90 can beprovided only in the right portion of the guide rail 90 as shown in FIG.32, if desired. The work table 20 is mounted on a machine frame 10 asshown in FIGS. 26 and 28. The work table 20 mounts a sewing device 200and a label device 360 as shown in FIG. 26.

The press plate 30 may be one shown in FIG. 27. Alternatively, the pressplate 30 may take configurations shown in FIGS. 40 and 51. The pressplate 30 is attached at the lower end of a shaft 40 as shown in FIGS. 26and 28. The shaft 40 is mounted on a guide beam 60 by means of a supportdevice 50.

The shaft 40 has a press plate connector 45 on its lower end which holdsthe press plate 30 detachably, and has on its upper end a coupling guide43 having two grooves 43a in this embodiment. On a central portion ofthe shaft 40 is provided a piston portion 42. When the support device 50is provided with a cylinder device, the shaft 40 functions as a pistonwithin the cylinder device.

A turn device support 44 is mounted on the support device 50 todetachably mount a turn device 80 as shown in FIGS. 37 and 38. Thecoupling guide 43 is mounted on the shaft 40. The turn device support 44engages with an attachment opening 82 formed in a central portion of theturn device 80 and supports the bottom of the turn device 80 as shown inFIGS. 41 and 42.

The press plate connector 45 is a rectangular plate attached to thelower end of the shaft 40 as shown in FIGS. 37 and 38. The press plateconnector 45 is inserted into a dovetail 32a formed in the couplingmember 32 from the left side in FIG. 37. The press plate connector 45has a stopper member 46, which is lifted by a stopper controller 46a asshown in FIG. 37. The stopper member 46 is biased by a spring (notshown) toward a receiver hole 32b.

Such press plates 30 to be engaged with the press plate connector 45 atthe lower end of the shaft 40 are each provided with an identicalcoupling member 32. The coupling member 32 has a dovetail 32a whichencloses the press plate connector 45 as shown in FIG. 38, a portion ofwhich is provided with a receiver hole 32b to be engaged with a lowerportion of the stopper member 46 as shown in FIG. 37.

The turn device 80 is horizontally mounted on the upper end of thecylinder member 53 as shown in FIG. 37. The top end of the cylindermember 53 has a plurality of guide columns 56 which correspondinglyengage with the grooves 43a formed on the coupling device 43. The guidecolumns 56 together hold the shaft 40 horizontally steady but allow avertical movement of the shaft 40 relative to the cylinder member 53.

The guide rail 90 is mounted on the frame 10 shiftably relative to theframe 10 by means of a rail driver 400 as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32. Theguide rail 90 is moved relative to the frame 10 under control to adjustpositioning of the press plate 30 relative to the sewing device 200 inaccordance with desired treatment, either a round corner treatment or asquare corner treatment.

In the guide rail 90, a stopper 91 is provided in the guide channel 90bas shown in FIG. 34. The stopper 91 selectively restricts the guiderollers 81 within the guide channel 90b. The guide rail 90 has an outlet92 covered with a gate device 95 of a door device 90a and an inlet 93 asshown in FIG. 35. There is also provided a piston 97a. The inlet 93 iscovered with the front portion 94a of a guide member 94. The frontportion 94a is biased with a pull spring 98.

The outlet 92 and the inlet 93 are provided with a substantial lengthalong the guide channel 90b as shown in FIGS. 32 and 45. The respectivelengths of the outlet 92 and the inlet 93 are provided considering thedistance between two guide rollers 81 of all utilizable turn devices 80so that the guide rollers 81 of any turn device 80 can be smoothlyengaged with the inlet 93 and outlet 92. Thus the introduction of guiderollers 81 into the guide channel 90b as well as expelling the guiderollers 81 from the guide channel 90b can both be smoothly provided.

In the hemstitching apparatus 100, a cutter device 300 is additionallyprovided as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. The cutter device 300 has amaterial feeder, which feeds an elongated fabric material to the cutterdevice 300. The material feeder has a nipper means to hold a portion ofthe fabric material to be cut, thus providing a control over the feedingof the fabric material.

The fabric material to be cut in a predetermined size is carried ontothe work table 20 by a transporter 340 as shown in FIG. 26 and cut bythe cutter device 300. The transporter 340 has a nipper which nips aportion of the fabric material and draws the fabric material onto thework table 20. This transporter 340 is shuttled by a piston cylinder 342as shown in FIG. 26.

The fabric piece W cut in a predetermined size by the cutter device 300is received by a transport plate 350 which presses the fabric piece W onthe work table 20. The transport plate 350 is supported on a plateelevator 351 which can be controlled vertically.

A support bar 352 supporting the transport plate 350 is supported by aguide bar 353 installed in parallel with the guide rail 90 as shown inFIG. 29. The support bar 352 is connected to the piston rod of a barcylinder 354, which is fixed to the frame 10 and controlled by acontroller means (not shown).

The transport plate 350 shuttles between its initial position and thecentral position shown in FIG. 29. At each terminal, the transport plate350 is vertically moved by the plate elevator 351. The transport plate350 presses the fabric piece W cut by the cutter device 300 on the worktable 20. The fabric W is fed from the left side by the bar cylinder 354as shown in FIG. 29. The plate elevator 351 elevates the transport plate350 to release the fabric W onto the work table 20. Then the transportplate 350 returns to its initial position.

As described, the guide rail 90 can move relative to the frame 10 bymeans of the rail driver 400. The rail driver 400 has two rail members410 as shown in FIG. 31. On each rail member 410 is provided a rail base411 as shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, which can move upward in FIG. 32.

To each rail base 411 are connected a thread cylinder 413 and a retreatcylinder 414. Each retreat cylinder 414 is connected to a base plate 412fixed on the corresponding rail base 411. A square-round control shaft415 is engaged with each base plate 412. Controlled by the square-roundcontrol shafts 415, the base plates 412 move on the rail members 410respectively. The square-round control shafts 415 are providedrespectively on the right portion and the left portion of the frame 10as shown in FIG. 32. The turning of these square-round control shafts415 is synchronized by a synchro-axis 416 provided between those shafts415. Accordingly, the base plates 412 move synchronously on the railsmembers 410 under control of an axis handle 417 provided on the raildriver 400. In such a way, the guide rail 90 can move relative to theframe 10.

In this embodiment, the synchro-axis 416 is turned by means of a singleaxis handle 417, which is to provide an easily adjustment of thehemstitching apparatus 100 by visually confirming relative positions ofthe turn device 80 and the needle 210 for either a round cornertreatment or a square corner treatment. The synchro-axis 416 may becontrolled by an NC motor.

Positioning adjustment of the guide rail 90 by the axial handle 417 ismade independent of the thread cylinders 413 and the retreat cylinders414. The thread cylinders 413 and the retreat cylinders 414 function asfollows. The thread cylinders 413 provide a finishing treatment of athread when the edge treatment of a fabric product W is over by means ofdrawing the guide rail 90 to the right in FIG. 33. This is to separatethe fabric W and the needle 210 to give room for a finishing threadtreatment.

The retreat cylinders 414 function when the press plate 30 moves back toreceive the next fabric piece W. The retreat cylinders 414 draw theguide rail 90 from the thread cylinders 413 so that the press plate 30will not contact the sewing device 200 as a safety measure to theapparatus 100.

A product carrier 500 is provided in this embodiment to carry out fabricproducts as shown in FIGS. 43 and 44. The carrier 500 has a gripper 510which is shuttled by a recipro-device 511. The gripper 510 grips an endportion of finished products and piles them neatly on a product receiver514.

The work table 20 is additionally provided with insertion grooves 23 forthe gripper 510 such that the gripper 510 can be guided to graspfinished products. As shown in FIG. 44, such grooves 23 are provided ona right portion of the work table 20. The left ends of these grooves 23are introduced in the working area of the press plate 30.

However, when the grooves 23 have portions in the working area of thepress plate 30, noises may be generated as the press plate 30 moves overthe grooves 23, particularly when large sized fabric pieces are to betreated. In order to cope with this problem, a plate member 513 isprovided, which is elevated by means of a vertical cylinder 513a asnecessary. The plate member 513 and the work table 20 become coplanarand the press plate 30 can smoothly turn on the grooves 23. The gripper510 is moved by means of a gripper device 512 as shown in FIG. 43.

As described, finished products are piled on the product receiver 514 bymeans of the gripper 510. To avoid slippage of the piled products,oncoming products are temporarily positioned on an assistant plate means515 shown in FIG. 43. The plate means 515 is provided not to interferewith the movement of the gripper 510.

The product receiver 514 is depressable downward as the weight of thepiled products thereon increases. Accordingly, the top surface of thepiled products is always at a constant level.

INDUSTRIAL UTILITY OF THE INVENTION

A hemstitching apparatus 100 of the present invention can basically beoperated by movement of a press plate 30, which is basically facilitatedby means of reciprocal movements of a guide beam 60 provided by means ofa drive device 70. Even a round corner treatment can be provided quicklyand easily, thus at a low cost, with a hemstitching apparatus of thepresent invention.

Various configurations of fabric products can be efficiently dealt withby a hemstitching apparatus of the present invention, quickly andeasily, thus economically.

In addition, change of the parts can be done simply. And the cut device300 can provide an automated cutting of fabric materials. Damages to thedevice 100 can be efficiently avoided as well.

A support device 50 according to the present invention, comprising: asupport cylinder 51 to be horizontally moved along a guide beam 60; acylinder member 53 turnably enclosed within the support cylinder 51 tovertically guide a shaft 40; two pressure chambers 54 and 55 formedbetween the cylinder member 53 and the shaft 40; and two fluid ports 51aand two port paths 53a in communication with the chambers 54 and 55, iscapable of providing easy setting of member elements of a hemstitchingapparatus 100 in addition to the foregoing advantages.

A cutter device 300 according to the present invention willautomatically cut and feed an elongated fabric material, contributing toshortening of overall operation time.

A detachable turn device 80 is provided on a shaft 40. Such a turndevice 80 has an attachment opening 82 in its center for engagement witha turn device support 44 formed on the shaft 40. Use of such easilyremovable turn devices 80 and common attachment means prepared accordingto the present invention provide an excellent efficiency in productionof single-fabric products.

Means to safeguard the apparatus 100 in case of malfunctioning isadditionally provided on the apparatus 100.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hemstitching apparatus for single-fabricproducts, comprising:a press plate to press a fabric piece on a worktable held by a machine frame; a guide beam provided integrally withsaid press plate to hold and move a vertically installed shaft in thecross-machine direction; a drive device to move said beam in the machinedirection; a turn device provided integrally on the upper end of saidshaft; a guide rail mounted on said machine frame to guide a pluralityof guide rollers provided on said turn device; and a sewing device tohem stitch said fabric piece pressed under said press plate, wherein thereciprocal movement and turning of said press plate pressing said fabricpiece and said turn device provided integrally with said press plate areto be provided solely by said guide beam as moved reciprocally by saiddrive device.
 2. A hemstitching apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid guide rail comprises:a guide channel which guides said guiderollers therein; a stopper provided in said guide channel to hold aguide roller above a needle of said sewing device; an outlet to expel aguide roller held within said stopper from said guide rail; and an inletto introduce a guide roller held within said stopper into said guiderail.
 3. A hemstitching apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a support device to hold said shaft, comprising:a supportcylinder to be moved in the cross-machine direction on said guide beam;a cylinder member turnably mounted in said support cylinder tovertically guide said shaft therein; a pair of vertically arrangedpressure chambers and formed between said cylinder member and saidshaft; and a pair of fluid ports and port paths provided in said supportcylinder to control the pressure in said pressure chambers.
 4. Ahemstitching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each end of saidguide rail is retreatably mounted on said machine frame by means of asafety device.
 5. A hemstitching apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid outlet is covered with a door device comprising:a gate deviceturnably held on a side of said guide rail by means of a supportspindle; a piston means provided outwardly from said support spindle ofsaid gate device; and a pushspring provided outwardly from said pistonmeans to bias said gate device toward said guide rail, said inlet beingcovered with a front portion of a guide member held thereon by means ofa pull spring.
 6. A hemstitching apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid guide rail is to be positioned outside the position of a needle ofsaid sewing device to provide a square corner treatment on said fabricpiece, and is to be positioned inside the position of said needletoprovide a round corner treatment on said fabric piece by means ofmounting said guide rail on said machine frame movably in paralleltherewith, said press plate being capable of retreating from said sewingdevice when said guide rail returns to its original position togetherwith said turn device, wherein said outlet and said inlet of said guiderail (90) are large enough to respectively guide each said guide rollerfrom and into a guide channel in accordance with the change in distancebetween the guide roller held by said stopper in said guide rail and anadjacent guide roller, said turn device and said press plate beingreplaceably provided on said shaft.
 7. A hemstitching apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said turn device and said press plate areto be mounted on a side of said shaft in a single direction by means ofreplaceably mounting said press plate on the lower end of said shaft inthe horizontal direction, providing a turn device support on an upperportion of said shaft inserting through said turn device support anattachment opening formed in the center of said turn device, andpressing and fixing said turn device on said turn device support.
 8. Ahemstitching apparatus according to claim 1, further providing a cutterdevice in front of said sewing device to draw a portion of an elongatedfabric material and cut said material to provide a fabric piece having apredetermined dimension.
 9. A hemstitching apparatus according to claim1, further providing a label device between a cutter device and saidsewing device to provide a label on a fabric piece on said work table.10. A hemstitching apparatus according to claim 1, further providing aproduct carrier on said machine frame to receive fabric products.